Steam-trap.



M. J. KONOLD & R. T. PRALL.

STEAM TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 30. 1911.

1, 1 1 9,286. Patented Dec. 1,1914.

2 SHEET8-SHBET 1.

INVENTORS Atty's 75 axis/ M. J. KONOLD & R. T. PRALL.

STEAM TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.30,1911.

1,1 19,286. Patented Dec.1,1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

71425 M WITNESSES: Z INVENTOHS tty's "crap s'ra'rns Parana? orrion.

MATTHEW J. KONOLD, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, AND RALPH T. PRALL, OF

YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO.

STEAM-TRAP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 1, 1914.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, l\/IATTHEW J. 1O N- one, residing at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and RALPH T. PRALL, residing at Youngstown, in the county of Mahoning and State of Ohio, citizens of the United States, have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Steam-Traps, of which improvements the following is a specification.

In the construction of machines or tilting vessels, such as are commonly known as gravity, tilting, steam, return, or vacuum traps, or any other machines wherein a fluid gains entrance to a receptacle mounted upon a trunnion, or other p voted support, it has been customary to gain entrance to the receptacle directly through the trunnions, to the end that the pivotal movement of the receptacle will not be impeded. To accomplish this entrance, the trunnions have been provided interiorly with openings, and the connection to these openings have required packed joints, a feature that and hence made unhas interfered with, certain, the tilting action of the receptacle. Since the operation of traps, such as have been heretofore mentioned, is entirely dependent upon the tilting of the receptacle, upon the collection of a predetermined amount of water, the freedom of motion of the trunnion is a matter of vital importance.

Our invention relates to machines of the character described, and the object of our invention is to provide an entrance to the receptacle in a manner that will not interfere with the free movement of the trunnions in their bearings and in a manner that will permit of the use of bearing elements, such as roller or ball bearings.

A. further object of our invention is to construct tilting receptacles in such a way that their emptying will be more nearly complete.

Since our invention finds application in a steam-trap, we choose to describe it therewith, but we do not wish to limit ourselves to such application, for obviously it can be used in various other devices.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side elevation and Fig. 2 is an end view of a steam-trap embodying our invention, and Fig. 3 is a partial end view showing the lever connection to the escape pipe. In

these figures like numerals are used to designate like parts.

In the operation of steam-traps of the character described, water gains entrance to a pivoted receptacle through a pipe-section, which, besides being a conduit, is also a support for the receptacle. A second support for the receptacle is provided, which yields under a predetermined weight, and this feature is conveniently embodied in a weighted lever which holds the receptacle in such a position (usually horizontal) that the water will not flow therefrom until a predetermined weight has gathered therein, which weight is suflicient to coimterbalance the weighted lever and cause the support to yield. a valve to permit of the escape of the water contained within the receptacle, and,.when all or part of the water has escaped therefrom, the yielding support becomes again effective to swing the receptacle back to normal position and sustain itthere until water has again collected in it to the critical amount. a

In the particular steam-trap shown in the drawings, and in which our invention finds application, the water of condensation is takenby the inlet conduit 20 from the steam line, or from a separator, or other receptacle provided for its collection, and gains entrance to the receptacle 1 through an inwardly extending pipe 2, which pipe has connection to the inlet conduit preferably through the flexible hose 9 and the manifold 33. The water gathered in the receptacle flows therefrom, preferably through the pipe 5, the manifold 3, and the flexible hose 2) to the escape conduit 21. The pipe 2, being secured to the manifold 3, which in turn is suitably provided with trunnions 22, also forms a support for the receptacle 1, and is conveniently located at one side of its center of gravity. A second and movable support for the receptacle is conveniently provided at the other side of its center of gravity by means of a lever 4:, one end of which on gages a laterally extending arm of the pipe connection 18 through thelink 19 and holds the receptacle yieldingly against the stop 12.

The lever 41: is pivoted at 17 upon a support 6 and may be weighted at its other end by a movable block 7, conveniently carried by the roller 13, to the'end that, when the welghted arm of the lever rises, in conse- The receptacle, when it tilts, opens shall have collected therein.

It will be understood that, when the receptacle tilts, the weighted end of the lever will rise, the weight will move toward the fulcrum point and the rotation of the receptacle will be limited by the stop 11. F urthermore the fluid content will move away from the pivot support of the receptacle, and, in consequence thereof, a greater portion of the load will be acting against the lever 4 to hold its weighted end in elevated position. This shifting of the center of gravity of the supported partially-filled receptacle will insure an appreciable emptying of its contents, which is made nearly complete by the proper disposition of the stop 15, which limits the forward movement of the block 7. Simultaneously with the tilting of the receptacle suitable means are provided for opening an escape conduit for the water contained therein. As shown herein the discharge pipe 21 is provided with a valve 8, which. may be opened by a suitable arm 14-, secured to the outlet pipe 5 to the end that, when the receptacle drops, the lower end of the arm will open the said valve and keep it open until the receptacle rises.

As heretofore stated, the freedom of motion of the trunnion is of great importance in order to insure an emptying of the receptacle when a certain amount of water has Copies of this patent may be obtained for fulcrum point 17 and thereeffect to cause the receptacle I pivot point 17, with reference collected therein. To insure an unimpeded movement of the receptacle we provide the standard 10 with suitable bearing elements, as ball or roller bearings, and this construction is made possible since we connect the entering and discharge conduits to the trunnions, preferably with flexible hose, and thereby eliminate the necessity of a packed joint. The trunnion is provided with the double manifold passage-way 3 to the end that water may enter the receptacle through the supporting pipe 2 and may flow therefrom through the pipe 5. Furthermore, in order to diminish. the amount of-fieXure of the hose connection, incident to the tipping of the receptacle, we preferably formdependingarms on each end of the manifold 3, and to these arms we secure the trunnions 22, which trunnions, it will be understood, move pivotally in the supports 10, and have their center of rotation below the center of the manifold to most eflectually accomplish this end.

WVe claim as our invention: I

In a steam trap, the combination of a pivotally supported inlet conduit leading from one passageway of said manifold member to a receptacle and forming an eccentrically disposed sup port for said receptacle, an outlet conduit connecting a second passageway. of said manifold member to' the said receptacle, feed pipes leading to and'escape pipes leading from said receptacle, and flexible pipe's connecting said feed and said escape pipes with the said manifold passagesways, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands.

- MATTHEW J. KoNoLD.

RALPH T. PRALL.

lVitnesses JOHN N. PRALL, HOWARD V. ORR.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

70 manifold member, an r 

